A tragic railway station roof collapse in Novi Sad, Serbia, that claimed 15 lives on Nov. 1 has led to charges against former Transport Minister Goran Vesić and 12 others, including government officials, contractors, and supervisors.
The Higher Prosecutor’s Office accused Vesić of endangering public safety and called for his detention.
Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević stressed accountability, saying, “Citizens expect those responsible will face justice.” Critics, however, argue corruption and secrecy surrounding the project were the real culprits. Opposition leader Radomir Lazović called out Vesić for fostering “massive corruption in construction” and enabling “secret contracts” that led to the disaster.
Former Novi Sad Mayor Boris Novaković echoed the outrage, questioning why the indictments fail to address the deaths or trace corruption. He criticized the government for “throwing dust in the eyes of the people” while ignoring systemic issues.
The station collapse occurred during renovations linked to a China-backed Belt and Road initiative to build a 1,032-kilometer railway connecting Budapest to Athens via Belgrade. Despite the tragedy, Vučević reaffirmed Serbia’s commitment to completing the high-speed rail project, emphasizing its importance in linking Central Europe with the Mediterranean.
